Thurs 9th June: Dog meat trade in China (no photos)

Albert has been staying at our Ap Lei Chau Homing Centre

It was a great day for Dragon Boat racing and another day off, except for the staff who were working in the Homing Centres as usual.  We are open every single day of the year without exception because the dogs need walking and feeding regardless, and Public Holidays are the busiest times for adoptions.  In fact it was the best day for a long time at our Ap Lei Chau Homing Centre and three dogs left for trials, two pugs and a schnauzer cross, while puppy Albert was adopted.

It's a daily struggle to keep this place open

There's a lot on Facebook currently about the horrific Yulin dog eating festival and the dog meat trade in China generally, which of course goes on throughout the year.  There is a lot of confusion about who is doing what to help as unbearably graphic photos are posted alongside pleas for donations, and as China doesn't recognise charities in the same way as other countries do it's impossible to know who is genuine.  Donations have to be made to individuals or to organisations outside China, such as Animals Asia who are also active in fighting the dog meat trade.

 http://www.animalsasia.org/hk-en/media/news/news-archive/five-ways-the-yulin-dog-meat-festival-could-end-with-your-help.html

I have heard stories circulating about one particular person who is getting some high-profile publicity but whose operations are dubious to say the least, and it's very easy for any information, good or bad, to spread like wildfire on social media.  I can't name this person, but what I can tell is that the Little Adoption Shop run by Christopher Barden is above board and safe to donate to.  https://www.facebook.com/LittleAdoptionShop/?fref=ts

Chris Barden and his long-term staff

Chris is a long-term resident of Beijing and his struggles to keep his Little Adoption Shop open against constant harrassment from the authorities, as well as pay for all of the rescue work, is nothing short of heroic.  As difficult as animal rescue work is anywhere, it's nothing compared to the horrors and difficulties that rescuers need to deal with in China.  Please support if you can: